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Early Eyelid Rehabilitation in Facial Nerve Paralysis
Author(s) -
Linder Thomas E.,
Pike Virginia E.,
Linstrom Christopher J.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199609000-00014
Subject(s) - paralysis , eyelid , facial nerve , facial paralysis , medicine , rehabilitation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , anatomy , surgery , physical therapy
Upper‐lid gold‐weight insertions and lowerlid‐shortening procedures are standard surgical techniques used to restore eyelid function and protect the cornea in patients with facial nerve paralysis. Different opinions exist in the literature regarding the correct timing and the morbidity of these interventions. The retrospective analysis of 45 patients over a 5‐year period revealed extrusion of the gold weight in one (2.2%) patient and delayed infections in three (6.6%). Sixty percent of all gold‐weight insertions were performed within 4 weeks after the onset of facial nerve paralysis. We strongly favor gold‐weight insertion, often combined with lower‐lid‐shortening procedures, as a simple, reliable, reversible, and successful technique for early rehabilitation of the paralyzed eyelid. Using these guidelines, we have markedly reduced the need for tarsorrhaphies.